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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Healthy Habits: When Your Child Has Mental Illness

When you have a baby, you
want the best for them. You imagine their first steps, first words, the first
time they’re able to tell you exactly how they feel using complete sentences
and every milestone to come. It’s truly an exciting journey to watch your baby
grow into a fully aware capable human being that you love and adore.

You want to show them the
world, share your experiences with this person who has an inherent bond with
you. Nobody wants their child to suffer, but the reality is that life is
unpredictable and sometimes people are dealt a raw deal. When your child begins
to show signs of mental illness, this can be upsetting to you as a parent and
you might not know what to do.

First, understand that your
feelings are normal and real. Noticing that your son or daughter is coping with
something that seems to be out of their control can make you as their parent
feel powerless. If your daughter, for example, begins to show symptoms of
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you
might become nervous. Perhaps you notice that she is counting her toys
excessively, unable to leave the house unless she performs certain routines or
rituals or repeats the same questions over and over again seeking reassurance
from you; this can be concerning and also draining to you as a parent.

There are many different
mental illnesses that can affect both adults and children, and genetics play a
part in them. We know that certain more severe mental health issues have a
genetic component more than others, such as schizophrenia.

As parents it’s natural to
feel frustrated with your children and this frustration can increase in
intensity when it comes to mental health issues. If you as their parent or
guardian also have a mental illness, you can empathize with their experience
and you could have a variety of feelings, including guilt or even shame. Honor
the feelings you have when you are trying to help your child.

It’s okay to reach out for
help when you need it. There are resources online for parents who are coping
with raising a child with mental illness. It’s important to be able to talk
about your experience out loud and this can be done in a therapeutic setting.
Sometimes it’s challenging to find the time to see a therapist when you’re a
parent, let alone the parent of a kid who has mental health issues. One great
option is online counseling. There are great companies out there like BetterHelp where you can get the support and guidance you need
to get well. Whatever you do, please don’t suffer in silence. Speak candidly
about your truth and own your feelings. An online counselor cares about your
wellbeing and wants to help you cope with the challenges of raising a child
with mental illness.

Lastly, talk to your child.
They need the same thing that any child needs: unconditional love and support.
Your child may have different issues than other neurotypical children, but they
deserve to be loved and appreciated.

You are doing the best you
can as a parent, so give yourself a break because parenting is an incredibly
hard job. And the more you educate about childhood mental illness the better.